Quote:
Originally Posted by nik-
How do you figure this? He's been given 7 starts and posted a respectable GAA including one game where no one showed up and they got lit up. Prior to that, instead of giving him a legit shot as backup like he earned with two solid AHL seasons, they signed an unknown commodity out of Sweden for not one, but TWO years apparently deciding that 4 preseason games overrides two AHL seasons and going with the big goalie that goes down quicker than a thai hooker. Then when they send him down to the AHL to keep in shape, they start him so sporadically that it's no surprise he can't stay sharp. Then add to that the couch going to the media taking subtle shots about someone in practice playing badly.
If anything the Flames have poorly managed the kid.
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Flames have done a good job not rushing this kid. In that time, Irving lost his starter position on the Heat 3 times - once when he got demoted to the ECHL, last year right before the playoffs, and if you count him as having had the best chance at starting, then this year as well to Taylor AND Brust.
Irving had an EQUAL opportunity to wrestle that job away from Taylor. They played all 3 goalies relatively even (something like 2 starts, 2 backups, 2 sit-outs) on a semi-regular rotation. Not only did Irving not take his starting job from Taylor back, but he allowed Brust (another AHL journeyman) to relegate him to 3rd string.
Irving has been the least respectable and least dependable goalie this year. Flames have continued to give him the torch the last few seasons, but he keeps on losing it. He has only put one CONSISTENT season up since he came onto the Heat, where he started and finished the entire season as the starter.
I don't think Flames have mismanaged him at all. What are they supposed to do? Keep feeding him starts when he just keeps doing poorly? Flames have come out and said they are running strictly on merit. Irving had an EQUAL chance at being the starter, but in the end, he did NOT beat out 2 other starters.
Also, if part of your argument is that Irving shouldn't have been started infrequently, but rather just kept being fed the bulk of starts regardless, then I would argue that handling him as a backup and starting him so irregularly has shown that he can not be a backup at all.